This is one of your best videos on printing in my opinion. It distills the contents of many previous videos. I love the comment on 2:27: "A lot comes down to paper choice and profiling"
Thank you for your vidoes. I have learned a lot from you vidoes. I have done photography as a hobby for 70 yrs! I just love the color in photos. (Started out with a Bonnie B&W camera). I have never got prints that I am totally happy with and I usually go thru a lot of paper. I have done profiling and it does help a lot. I intend to get ET-8500 when my XP-830 dies - it getting close to it.
Thanks - I'll have a full 8500 review in due course, but I'd note that apart from the size it's exactly the same as the 8550 here www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
Great video as always, appreciate the explanation of the inks - especially the role of the gray. I have a Canon Prograf 300 and - even though I print primarily color photos and scans of watercolors - gray is the ink I replace most. I figured it had a role in color subtlety and even got the G620 because it has gray.
I struggled with printer selection for a long time. I settled on a 6-ink tank model (Canon G620) on which I could churn out a lot of 4x6 prints, reasoning that any Canon, Epson, or other major maker could produce good-enough prints for my use.
Interesting stuff Keith. I've never really considered which of the two variables matters most, the paper quality or the amount of inks available. I don't doubt of course that a 12 ink printer with the very best quality papers will produce the best quality prints overall. As you've said many times however, if you don't know what you are doing then even with the best of everything, that in itself doesn't guarantee amazing prints. I've mentioned my diminutive Epson ET2650 many times as a case in point. This printer, used with Ilford Smooth Pearl paper ( and my custom ICC profile ) produces outstanding results in my opinion. With HP Advanced Gloss paper and a custom profile the results were less satisfying. Admittedly my printing experience is limited to only a few I've personally owned ( and I've never owned any of the high end mega bucks printers ) but of course I've seen many high quality prints in my time. So it really comes down to this, there has to be something of a synergy between the ink and the paper in combination with the person doing the printing knowing how to maximise its potential. Experimentation is the key 😉
Keith, I was excited when I heard Canon added purple, which should extend the gamut of their reds, especially, I thought, which seemed to be their gamut weakness. But then I heard that maybe their purple inks' longevity isn't stellar. I may have even read this on DPReview. So sad to see it go! You seem to not prefer the use of the purple ink. Is that anything to do with its longevity? Thanks.
Ah, nothing to do with longevity - I'd evaluate each printer individually. A particular colour added is neither good or bad other than in context with the others ;-) I was referring to the setup option for violet on the Epson P5000 which is not the best choice for photo printing, but is for proofing. The different ink selections of the P900 and P7500 introduce it where it is useful
Great explanation- most helpful! I have a P900 for my photo pursuits. I also have a Epson 4 eco tank printer for documents. The vast majority of eco tank prints are 'B&W'. I notice the cyan goes down pretty quickly with the black. Is that a mixing thing to get lighter black? The document says 'black' (0,0,0) for the text, but maybe the printer makes it more grey-ish? Sell me two inks rather than one (black)? Of course, if it was black ink only I'd use more black, so that's probably a wash. Just curious.
Seeing those images taken with tilt/ shift lenses, I'm hoping that Canon has sent you one of the rumored pre-production models of their Rf t/s lenses. After all, you wrote the book.
I wish... I'm not 'famous' enough in photography to get asked into that ;-) I work much more with the printer part of Canon - different division. I'll do a video about what we might get and why I'd use 14 & 24mm for tomorrow...
I just bought an Epson et 2850 and have 5 boxes of Kodak paper. Where can I find the Kodak ICC profiles and how do I add them to my Windows 10 settings for use on the printer. I am very new to photo printing and using GIMP photo editing.
There are no Kodak profiles available See my written review for info about profile availability www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-2850-printer-review/
Have you ever used a really big printer like the canon Prograf PRO 2100 or a bigger one? It would be interesting to test whether such large printers can only print large or are also good for small images.
Yes - rather a lot ;-) I got my first 44" width printer in 2004 See here for one large one www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-sc-p20000-printer-review/ or more recently www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-surecolor-p7500-printer-review/ In general they will take small sheets [A4] but tend to have quite large bottom margins If I've a lot of small prints to make I print them on roll paper and cut it afterwards.
Thanks - my articles go back about 17 years before I started the videos ;-) You are quite right - lack of use is the major factor causing problems with large printers - they need using every week or so at least.
Could the magic sauce lie in a hybrid or multi stage printer which uses a combination of pigments, dyes, laser, and solarisation? The US National Archives has a (supposedly) banging set of articles and guidelines on various criteria for archival requirements. I do wonder about the mystical field of lambda printers, as it’s supporters claim those are the only printers capable of matching the resolution necessary for matching film negatives and that inkjets cannot. How much truth is there to that claim - and how much of the answer is theoretical vs ‘it depends?’ Lastly, why is it that photographic negatives , camera sensors, and darkroom printers can get away with RGB and CMYK, but printers require more?
![Which is best? Epson P900 vs Epson P5300 [P5370] 17" A2 pigment ink printer shootout](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vAeJskE3ryc/mqdefault.jpg)
Another very enlightening clip, Keith. I enjoyed it immensely.
Thanks
This is one of your best videos on printing in my opinion. It distills the contents of many previous videos. I love the comment on 2:27: "A lot comes down to paper choice and profiling"
Thanks - I appreciate that!
Thank you for your vidoes. I have learned a lot from you vidoes. I have done photography as a hobby for 70 yrs! I just love the color in photos. (Started out with a Bonnie B&W camera). I have never got prints that I am totally happy with and I usually go thru a lot of paper. I have done profiling and it does help a lot. I intend to get ET-8500 when my XP-830 dies - it getting close to it.
Thanks - I'll have a full 8500 review in due course, but I'd note that apart from the size it's exactly the same as the 8550 here
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
Excellent as always - I can confirm that using the VFA setting on glossy photo paper gives a ghastly mess that never drys!
Yes - an ink mis-match can be quite dramatic
Great video as always, appreciate the explanation of the inks - especially the role of the gray. I have a Canon Prograf 300 and - even though I print primarily color photos and scans of watercolors - gray is the ink I replace most. I figured it had a role in color subtlety and even got the G620 because it has gray.
Thanks - the role of the grey seems counterintuitive in some respects, but in 'real world' images it gets used a lot.
Thanks Keith - clear and objective as always!
Thanks!
Thank you, very informative.
Thanks [and to the person who recently asked me about this... ;-) ]
I struggled with printer selection for a long time. I settled on a 6-ink tank model (Canon G620) on which I could churn out a lot of 4x6 prints, reasoning that any Canon, Epson, or other major maker could produce good-enough prints for my use.
They are capable of quite good results but do need some care in set-up.
Interesting stuff Keith. I've never really considered which of the two variables matters most, the paper quality or the amount of inks available. I don't doubt of course that a 12 ink printer with the very best quality papers will produce the best quality prints overall. As you've said many times however, if you don't know what you are doing then even with the best of everything, that in itself doesn't guarantee amazing prints. I've mentioned my diminutive Epson ET2650 many times as a case in point. This printer, used with Ilford Smooth Pearl paper ( and my custom ICC profile ) produces outstanding results in my opinion. With HP Advanced Gloss paper and a custom profile the results were less satisfying. Admittedly my printing experience is limited to only a few I've personally owned ( and I've never owned any of the high end mega bucks printers ) but of course I've seen many high quality prints in my time. So it really comes down to this, there has to be something of a synergy between the ink and the paper in combination with the person doing the printing knowing how to maximise its potential. Experimentation is the key 😉
Yes - actually trying it is what matters.
Keith, I was excited when I heard Canon added purple, which should extend the gamut of their reds, especially, I thought, which seemed to be their gamut weakness. But then I heard that maybe their purple inks' longevity isn't stellar. I may have even read this on DPReview. So sad to see it go! You seem to not prefer the use of the purple ink. Is that anything to do with its longevity? Thanks.
Ah, nothing to do with longevity - I'd evaluate each printer individually.
A particular colour added is neither good or bad other than in context with the others ;-)
I was referring to the setup option for violet on the Epson P5000 which is not the best choice for photo printing, but is for proofing. The different ink selections of the P900 and P7500 introduce it where it is useful
Great explanation- most helpful! I have a P900 for my photo pursuits. I also have a Epson 4 eco tank printer for documents. The vast majority of eco tank prints are 'B&W'. I notice the cyan goes down pretty quickly with the black. Is that a mixing thing to get lighter black? The document says 'black' (0,0,0) for the text, but maybe the printer makes it more grey-ish? Sell me two inks rather than one (black)? Of course, if it was black ink only I'd use more black, so that's probably a wash. Just curious.
Thanks - I suspect the cyan is just being used to make a more neutral black in some circumstances
Seeing those images taken with tilt/ shift lenses, I'm hoping that Canon has sent you one of the rumored pre-production models of their Rf t/s lenses. After all, you wrote the book.
I wish... I'm not 'famous' enough in photography to get asked into that ;-)
I work much more with the printer part of Canon - different division.
I'll do a video about what we might get and why I'd use 14 & 24mm for tomorrow...
I just bought an Epson et 2850 and have 5 boxes of Kodak paper. Where can I find the Kodak ICC profiles and how do I add them to my Windows 10 settings for use on the printer. I am very new to photo printing and using GIMP photo editing.
There are no Kodak profiles available
See my written review for info about profile availability
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-2850-printer-review/
Have you ever used a really big printer like the canon Prograf PRO 2100 or a bigger one? It would be interesting to test whether such large printers can only print large or are also good for small images.
Yes - rather a lot ;-) I got my first 44" width printer in 2004
See here for one large one www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-sc-p20000-printer-review/
or more recently
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-surecolor-p7500-printer-review/
In general they will take small sheets [A4] but tend to have quite large bottom margins
If I've a lot of small prints to make I print them on roll paper and cut it afterwards.
@@KeithCooper Thank you! Very interesting, a 24" printer is something I would love to have but will probably never buy as I have no real use for it.
Thanks - my articles go back about 17 years before I started the videos ;-)
You are quite right - lack of use is the major factor causing problems with large printers - they need using every week or so at least.
Could the magic sauce lie in a hybrid or multi stage printer which uses a combination of pigments, dyes, laser, and solarisation? The US National Archives has a (supposedly) banging set of articles and guidelines on various criteria for archival requirements. I do wonder about the mystical field of lambda printers, as it’s supporters claim those are the only printers capable of matching the resolution necessary for matching film negatives and that inkjets cannot. How much truth is there to that claim - and how much of the answer is theoretical vs ‘it depends?’ Lastly, why is it that photographic negatives , camera sensors, and darkroom printers can get away with RGB and CMYK, but printers require more?
I simply don't know - until someone lends me one to test... ;-)